Hi, I am trying to design the right snubber circuit for the IGBT switch I am using as part of my project. Has anyone got any good documentation or could point me in the right direction, to help in deciding the best snubber configuration and also guide me through the design process?

Thanks

Martin

 

For most power IGBTs of that size a simple .1 - 2 uF HV nonpolar capacitor series with a resistor across the Emitter and collector and or load itself is rather common.

Without knowing what load it is driving and at what frequency and voltage its impossible to recomend an exact RC snubber configuration.

 

For most power IGBTs of that size a simple .1 - 2 uF HV nonpolar capacitor series with a resistor across the Emitter and collector and or load itself is rather common.

Without knowing what load it is driving and at what frequency and voltage it's impossible to recommend an exact RC snubber configuration.

Thanks for the reply!

The purpose of the IGBT is to act as an extremely quick fault switch. Throwing a short circuit after a capacitor has been charged. So, it will only be subject to high fault current and voltage for an extremely short period, initial fault current will be around 500 amps with a voltage of 1000 volts.

 

Get thyself to the bottom of page 7 of this application note:

https://www.fairchildsemi.com/application-notes/AN/AN-3004.pdf

 

Thanks for the reply!

The purpose of the IGBT is to act as an extremely quick fault switch. Throwing a short circuit after a capacitor has been charged. So, it will only be subject to high fault current and voltage for an extremely short period, initial fault current will be around 500 amps with a voltage of 1000 volts.

Unless you need an automatic fault reset without dropping the source power a large SCR operating as a crowbar clamping device would also do the job as well or even better.